Zinc methionine and laminarin have growth‐enhancing properties in newly weaned pigs influencing both intestinal health and diarrhoea occurrence

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the interaction between zinc methionine (ZnM) and laminarin (LAM) on piglet growth performance and intestinal health post-weaning. Experiment 1 was designed as 2 × 2 factorial with four treatments [n = 8, weaning age (WA) 24 days, live weight (LW) 7.15 kg]: (i) basal diet (BD); (ii) BD + 500 mg/kg ZnM; (iii) BD + 300 mg/kg LAM; and (iv) BD + 500 mg/kg ZnM + 300 mg/kg LAM. There was an interaction (p < 0.05) between LAM and ZnM. Pigs that were offered the LAM diet had a similar performance to the BD. However, when combining LAM with ZnM, pigs had reduced average daily gain (ADG), gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) and LW at slaughter at day 8 post-weaning compared to the ZnM. Both LAM and ZnM improved the small intestinal morphology of the pigs at day 8 post-weaning. Experiment 2 was designed as 2 × 2 factorial with four dietary treatments (n = 9, WA 24 days, LW 7.32 kg): (i) BD; (ii) BD + 500 mg/kg ZnM; (iii) BD + 175 mg/kg LAM; and (iv) BD + 500 mg/kg ZnM + 175 mg/kg LAM. The ADG and average daily feed intake were improved between day 0 and 31 PW when pigs were offered a LAM diet (p < 0.01). Faecal scores were reduced between day 0 and day 31 post-weaning with ZnM (p < 0.001). Experiment 3 consisted of four dietary treatments (n = 10, WA 24 days, LW 7.32 kg): (i) BD; (ii) BD + 3300 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO); (iii) BD + 500 mg/kg ZnM; and (iv) BD + 175 mg/kg LAM. Pigs that were offered the ZnO diet had an increased ADG compared to the BD or ZnM diets (p < 0.01). Pigs that were offered the LAM diet had increased ADG compared to the ZnM diet (p < 0.05). Faecal scores were reduced between day 0 and day 31 PW with ZnM or ZnO supplementation (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the inclusion of 175 mg/kg LAM and ZnO improved ADG while both ZnO and ZnM reduced the faecal scores post-weaning.

Post weaning diarrhea in pigs: risk factors and non-colistin-based control strategies

“…Moreover, the use of high zinc levels in pig feeds has led to heavy metal contamination in the soil, raising environmental concerns [115]. Recently, Bouwhuis et al [117] reported that organic zinc [zinc methionine (ZnM)] could be used as a substitute for the inorganic zinc (ZnO) in the pig diet. In fact, organic zinc can be supplemented in lower doses (up to 500 mg/kg feed) compared to ZnO [117].…”

“…Recently, Bouwhuis et al [117] reported that organic zinc [zinc methionine (ZnM)] could be used as a substitute for the inorganic zinc (ZnO) in the pig diet. In fact, organic zinc can be supplemented in lower doses (up to 500 mg/kg feed) compared to ZnO [117]. In this study, the inclusion of ZnM resulted in improved faecal scores and the intestinal architecture compared to that observed in pigs supplemented with ZnO.…”

Seaweeds in Pig Nutrition

“…In swine, 24 studies have been published in the last 10 years on the effects of supplementation with brown seaweeds, or their extracts, on gut health: Ascophyllum nodosum [42,60,72], Ecklonia cava [63], Laminaria digitata [64,80,81], Laminaria hyperborea [82,83], Laminaria digitata and Laminaria hyperborea association [84], Laminaria spp. [58,59,65,67,[69][70][71][85][86][87][88][89][90]. Brown seaweeds titrated in alginic acid polysaccharides have also been studied [63].…”

Changes in growth performance, nutrient digestibility, immune blood profiles, fecal microbial and fecal gas emission of growing pigs in response to zinc aspartic acid chelate

“…Previous studies have focused on methionine Zn chelates. These studies indicated that methionine Zn chelate has a positive effect on growth performance, meat quality and intestinal health of pigs [14,15]. The ASP is the common precursor for the synthesis of methionine, while, the effects of Zn with aspartate on pigs are rarely reported.…”